Startup Directory Option Ignored in MS-DOS Shell (78670)


The information in this article applies to:
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
This article was previously published under Q78670

SUMMARY

In MS-DOS 5.0 and Shell, it is possible for the startup directory option to be ignored when a program item is started from the Active Task List.

MORE INFORMATION

The startup directory option will be ignored in the following two situations:
    • The program item being started from the Active Task List was originally placed there as a result of a LOAD=ENABLED entry in the DOSSHELL.INI file.
    • The program item being started from the Active Task List was added to the Active Task List by holding down the SHIFT key, and double-clicking on the program item (or pressing SHIFT+ENTER).
In the above cases, the effective startup directory will be the active directory at the time Shell was started.

WORKAROUND

To work around this limitation, write a batch file for the application that first changes to the desired startup directory before starting. Then create a program item for the batch file, not the executable. (Note: In this case, the startup directory option is now unnecessary.)

Example

To make a batch file to run Microsoft Word for MS-DOS, do the following:

    • Include the following lines in a batch file called WORD5.BAT: 
          cd \word5
      word

    • Make a program item for WORD5.BAT using the procedure described on pages 186-188 of the version 5.0 "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference."
Modification Type: Major Last Reviewed: 10/13/2003
Keywords: KB78670
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